Summary

Among current cigarette smokers, 20.4% reported current use of e-cigarettes on some days and 3.7% reported daily use. Reported reasons for e-cigarette use included: quit smoking (58.4%), reduce smoking (57.9%), and reduce health risks (51.9%). No significant differences in sociodemographic characteristics between e-cigarette users and non-users were observed. Prior quit attempts were reported more frequently among e-cigarette users (82.8%) than non-users (74.0%). Intention to quit was reported more frequently among e-cigarette users (64.7%) than non-users (46.8%). Smokers intending to quit were more likely to be e-cigarette users than those not intending to quit (OR=1.90, CI=1.36-2.65). Those who used e-cigarettes to try to quit smoking (OR=2.25, CI=1.25-4.05), reduce stress (OR=3.66, CI=1.11-12.09), or because they cost less (OR=3.42, CI=1.64-7.13) were more likely to report decreases in cigarette smoking than those who did not indicate these reasons. Smokers who reported using e-cigarettes to quit smoking (OR=16.25, CI=8.32-31.74) or reduce stress (OR=4.30, CI=1.32-14.09) were significantly more likely to report an intention to quit than those who did not indicate those reasons for using e-cigarettes.

Conclusions

Nearly a quarter of smokers in our study reported e-cigarettes use, primarily motivated by intentions to quit or reduce smoking. These findings identify a clinical and public health opportunity to re-engage smokers in cessation efforts.